NYWIFT Blog

This past May, NYWIFT member Martha Williams (Creator, Run for Your Life ) produced and moderated a panel “Web Series: From Creation to Distribution” with guest speakers Nick Borenstein (Head of Scripted Content, Topic.com), Sam Schlaifer (Director of Development, Refinery 29 Scripted Originals & Comedy), and Laura Turner Garrison (Executive Producer, Original Programming and Development at TruTV), sharing best practices for making your online series a success.

Here are three takeaways from the evening:

You do you: As “you’re only as good as your body of work,” the digital space is a fertile place for emerging talent. Content buyers are looking for author-voiced storytelling with an honest point-of-view that are simultaneously unique and relatable. If you’re an actor, writer, director or producer, instead of waiting for permission or a chance break, creating short-form content will show what you’re capable of and help you shine.

Keep your mind on your money and your money on your mind: Just because it’s short-form, doesn’t mean it’s cheaper to produce. Just like long-form content, budgets vary widely. Though the industry is still struggling to pin down how to monetize content, there’s ample potential in branded content. If this route interests you, start by ascertaining which brands thematically align with your project.

Werk it: That said, every project has a different path to being made. When approaching networks, a solid proof of concept helps you sell up the chain of command and the more packaged the project the better. If you get a general meeting with a network or production company, be sure to have lots of ideas and not be too precious about any of them. Remember, short-form content is all about sharing (and selling) you.

Mellini_Kantayya

Mellini Kantayya is an actor, author of "Actor. Writer. Whatever. (essays on my rise to the top of the bottom of the entertainment industry)", contributor to Huffington Post Comedy, and an active NYWIFT member. www.mellinikantayya.com

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New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) advocates for equality in the moving image industry and supports women in every stage of their careers. As the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York, NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers.